Prologue
Fate stood in the doorway and watched her daughter lying on her bed, reading a book. Zerina’s gentle face never failed to bring a smile to her mother.
“It is time for bed, daughter.”
“Please, Mother, just a few more minutes? I really want to finish this story.”
What was it about children, both mortal and immortal, that fought sleep?
“What are you reading?” Fate came forward, sitting down beside her daughter before reaching out for the book. She lifted a brow at the title, “Elements by Euclid? That’s heavy reading for such a young girl.” Zerina curled against her mother. “Are you still upset about earlier today?”
“I did not want to give one of my souls to the life that waited for the child.” A tear slid down Zerina’s cheek. “It will become twisted and made ugly by those parents.”
“Zerina, listen to me well. No soul can be destroyed by the actions of others. It is within each of us to know right from wrong in the decisions we make. It is those choices that will define a soul. When you wanted to go down to Earth to help one of your souls, you knew it was wrong and the repercussions that would be the result. You made the wrong choice, and if not for my friendship with Mother and your young age, the punishment would have been the loss of your power. Being punished for a year by not being able to transport unless summoned is only a mild punishment compared to what Mother could have done. Those were your actions, Zerina, despite constant warnings from me.”
“That is different. You told me not to and why. Some parents do not teach their children those things. What if they have never been taught right from wrong?”
Fate sighed at her daughter’s reasoning.
“No, they don’t, but Mother does. She gives them the knowledge ingrained in their very soul.”
Zerina lowered her head. “I ignored her voice. I really wanted to help that little girl. Her soul is one of great beauty, but her mother will make it an ugly, violent storm. I just do not understand why. I am an immortal with great power, yet I am not allowed to save that which I have protected and entrusted to another. It’s not fair.”
“I know, Zerina. This time you were lucky; the next time you may not be. Mother is very dangerous when her work is interfered with. In time, you will have the ability to analyze her moods and be able to work within the guidelines to achieve your goals. Age and experience will enable you to help the souls you hold so close to your heart.”
“I am sorry, mother.” Zerina looked apologetically up at her.
“Zerina, I give you fair warning; Mother won’t always be so easy on you. The next time, the consequences will be severe.” Fate took her oldest daughter’s hand, trying to impress on her just how severe the consequences of her actions could have been.
“I promise I won’t do it again.” Fear glinted in the child’s eyes.
“Do not make a promise you cannot keep,” Fate warned. “I am saying, for now, learn until such a time as you are experienced enough to find different routes that can be taken to help those souls you want to help. Now, would you like me to tell you a story?”
Fate knew further recriminations wouldn’t be needed. Zerina was an obedient daughter. She had just let her emotions control her into making an unwise choice. She had to learn of the destructive power of emotions and learn to control them, not letting them control her.
“Yes, please.” Zerina smiled at her mother.
Fate gathered her daughter close and began her story. “There was once a young girl, born back when time had almost first begun, when man had first started living in clans. She was small and sickly when only the strong could survive such harsh conditions. Her parents thought her weak and useless, as did her clan. Yet, she not only survived, she worked hard, caring for her younger brothers and sisters. Food and water were scarce, and her parents couldn’t provide for all. Many times, she knew hunger and cold, growing sicker as her parents did not want to waste food on someone not strong enough to survive.“
“I do not like this story,” Zerina protested.
Fate continued, “The young girl didn’t die quickly, her strength of will kept her alive. She tried to help gather food and water. Then, the day came when she was searching for roots and vegetables that were nearby, and she heard screams and tried to hurry home as fast as her frail body could manage. Once there, the young girl found marauders killing her family. She rushed the men, and using a small stone hatchet, she killed one; the laughter still in his throat, unable to comprehend such a helpless child being able to defend her family. There were too many to fight off for long, and cruelly, they beat her to the ground then proceeded to torture her for hours for daring to defend her family. They took her innocence and life that day, Zerina, yet her beautiful soul was as pure then as when she had been born. She had great courage in life and death, facing both without fear.”
Tears slid down Zerina’s cheeks.
“Do you know why I told you this story?” Fate asked her daughter.
“Because I didn’t want to give my soul this morning.”
“Darling, I expect you to care for them, to ache for the less than perfect life they are born into, and pray they have the strength to overcome the obstacles in their life.” Fate took her daughter’s hand in her own. “But know that with each life a soul has, it learns. You will have centuries to learn from your mistakes. Humans have but the few years that Mother grants them. Sometimes, their lessons are harsh, so the lesson will remain with them through their other lives.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Smiling tenderly, Fate stroked the tears away and brushed a kiss across her brow.
“There is something else I need to tell you. I am going to have a child.” Fate placed her daughter’s small hand on her stomach, letting her feel the small life just beginning.
“That is wonderful! I am going to have a brother or sister.”
Fate smiled tenderly at her daughter’s excitement.
“This one will be a girl. In time, I will have another daughter as well, and my last child will be a son.” Zerina smiled. Her first lesson in life had been to learn of Fate’s power to foresee the future while she could not see her own future Fate would be able to see her children’s. “They each will have new souls except this one.” Fate tightened her fingers around Zerina’s. “This one will have an old soul, one deserving of a second chance at life, and you will guide her soul at birth, Zerina.”
“Th
e little girl. That is why you told me that story.” Zerina jumped to her feet, hopping up and down on her bed before falling down next to her mother. “This time, we will make her happy. She’ll get a happy ending—you’ll see to that.”
“I hope so, Zerina. I intend to try with your help.” Zerina, for all her young wisdom, failed to notice the grim determination in her mother’s eyes. If she had, she would have been warned just to what lengths Fate would go to for the child she carried in her womb.
* * *
The courtroom was filled to capacity for the highly publicized case involving the deaths of a small family. Tension filled the air as the jurors were seated. The anguished father sat among the crowd waiting for the verdict. His absolute stillness and grim vestige should have warned the others, but like all humans, they were lost in their own personal cares.
Fate stood in the back of the courtroom, invisible to all eyes. She already knew the verdict that was about to be read by the foreperson. That was why she was here—several lives were about to be irrevocably changed.
When the not guilty verdict was read, Fate saw Philip Dawson jump up to grab his lawyer, shaking his hand vehemently in thanks. Laughing and crying in relief, he didn’t realize his joy was adding fuel to the flames burning in Thomas Shelton’s body, whose wife and unborn child’s deaths had been the direct result of Dawson’s driving under the influence.
To give him credit, Dawson’s lawyer appeared modest and tried to quiet his client. Others stopped by the table congratulating him on winning a case that many in the legal field had speculated to be unwinnable.
Rhys Michaels was not only an experienced lawyer, but also an important member of Cincinnati society. He came from an influential family, using those connections and a keen intelligence with regard to the legal system to rise to the top of his profession. Rhys’s career was all about the win; he took great care to avoid those cases that he knew would be impossible to win. Rhys didn’t care about the victims his clients had destroyed as long as they could pay the exorbitant fees he charged and furthered the career that, if not stopped, would lead to the most important position of political power and prestige in the United States.
The courtroom slowly emptied out, leaving only Rhys and his assistant.
“Let’s go celebrate.” Daniel smiled as Rhys shook his head.
“I can’t. Deena had an appointment with her obstetrician today, and she’s fixing a special dinner to tell me if it’s another boy or a girl. She’s left messages with my secretary to tell me to be home early.”
The unusual messages had made Rhys determined to be on time for once. The several messages in themselves spoke volumes as to the importance of Deena’s request. Usually, she was more than understanding of the demands of his job, never calling the office, preferring to leave small notes he would see as he left for work.
“Of course it will be a girl. With a beautiful wife and two perfect sons, the only thing left is for a baby girl to make you one of the luckiest bastards I know.”
“Jealous?” Rhys laughed. He didn’t blame Daniel for his good-natured envy; he had worked long hours to help with this last case, only to see Rhys take all the credit. Rhys remembered what it was like when he had first started out as a young law clerk.
“Damn straight. My life would have been complete with Deena—she’s beautiful, sweet, and absolutely devoted to you—but you’ve also just won the biggest case of your career. The reporters will all be talking about you on television tonight.”
Rhys finished putting his paperwork away in his briefcase. “I can’t take all the credit; I had quite a bit of help. I appreciate all the work you did on the case,” Rhys complimented his assistant.
“That’s what you pay me the big bucks for—to help you win. Of course, I do have the additional benefit of being seen next to you on the news. Think I can snare a woman as perfect as Deena?” Daniel joked.
“Not on your best day. There is only one Deena.”
Rhys had taken one look at Deena in their university English class and chased her relentlessly until she’d agreed to go on a date with him. They had married while still in university, each wanting a family as both sets of their parents had died—Deena’s when she was still in high school and Rhys had lost both of his just a few months before entering college. The marriage was happy and gave them the support that had been missing since their parents’ untimely deaths. These days, Deena was a stay at home mother who flourished in maintaining their luxurious home and caring for their two sons.
As Daniel and Rhys walked towards the heavy doors of the courtroom, Rhys saw a faint glimmer out of the corner of his eye as they exited. Hesitating, he looked closer and could have sworn he saw an outline of a woman. Blinking his eyes, he stared hard, but the lone figure had disappeared. Thinking the sun’s rays, which shone directly into the courthouse windows, had reflected on an object, Rhys caught up to Daniel who was staring at him in confusion.
Outside, they walked towards the parking garage. When Rhys turned towards the entrance, Daniel once again tried to convince Rhys to keep him company for a drink.
”Come on, we won’t be long. What’s twenty minutes?”
Finally giving in, Rhys shrugged and then turned away from the garage.
“Just a quick one. I owe you for that evidence you pulled out at the last minute.” No sooner had he spoken than a feeling of impending doom came over him, clenching his stomach in fear. Rhys had never felt anything like it in his life. He searched the milling crowd around him yet could see no danger.
Stopping in his tracks, Rhys turned back toward the parking garage to get his car, an intuition telling him to go home, those messages Deena had left him nagging at his mind.
Rhys had only taken a few steps before Daniel and several other lawyers called out to him from the doorway to the bar. The close proximity to the courthouse provided a much needed way for the men to wind down from the ugliness that people could inflict upon each other. Feeling ridiculous at his indecision and deciding a quick drink wouldn’t put him behind more than ten minutes, Rhys moved toward his friends.
Fate stood on the sidewalk, frowning. Someone was trying to interfere. If she had not used her power, he would be headed home to certain death. Whoever it was, they were weak, not even close to the power she wielded. Fate felt the power of the other immortal, but was unable to find the source. They were using an old source of magic with very little power, something that even a human could use if trained correctly.
“Do not dare to interfere. His path has been made.” Waving her hand in a graceful gesture, Fate destroyed the weak spell before disappearing inside the bar.
Rhys’s one drink turned into three. As others gathered around eager to fawn over him, Fate again waved her hand when Rhys would have left prematurely, implanting a thought for one of them to order another round of drinks.
Rhys started to sit back down in his chair when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning to look over it, however, he saw no one nearby while the others looked on questioningly at his abrupt movement.
Again, a sense of overwhelming dread filled his body. Reaching into his pocket, he removed his wallet and then threw down several large bills.
“I have to go,” he said, standing up.
“Come on, Rhys. Call Deena and tell her you’ll be late. Stay for one more drink,” Daniel tried to delay his boss.
Rhys did not answer as he hurried out of the bar.
Outside, the cool air struck, making him pause midstride. A sense of urgency overcame his hesitation, though. Seeing a couple about to enter a cab, he rushed forward, insinuating himself forcefully into the cab before they could. He quickly handed the cab driver a large bill and his address, slamming the door shut on the angry couple. He would catch a ride in the morning with Daniel; the few minutes he saved taking the cab would be worth the hassle.
The drive took fifteen long minutes, which Rhys counted while staring at his watch. Anger at himself for his actions left him silent when
the driver tried to chat. His gut instinct told him something was desperately wrong.
When the driver pulled in front of his house, Rhys jumped out without another word. Walking to his door and pulling out his keys with shaking fingers, his stomach plunged when he found the door ajar. Deena was always very careful to lock the doors and engage the security system. The mansion was secluded, and with Rhys’s wealth and enemies, they took every precaution. Deena would never willingly leave the door opened.
“Deena?”
The silence struck Rhys instantly. At this time of night, he should have heard the boys’ voices as they took their baths as well as Deena’s soft laughter while she delighted in their antics. All of that was missing, and the silence was making every muscle in his body taut.
Rhys walked toward the kitchen hoping to find Deena, praying she was drinking her favorite brewed tea as she waited patiently for him. However, his sharp mind noticed the lack of aromas from dinner cooking that were usually in the air when he arrived home. The kitchen was empty, but hearing a sound from the family room brought a brief sense of relief, making him shake. The boys were probably watching a movie, waiting for Daddy to read them their favorite bedtime story.
Opening the door, Rhys would never forget the sight that met his eyes. Deena lay on the floor covered in blood, her blank stare leaving him no doubt she was dead.
Moving forward, he tripped over something and glanced downward, finding the body of his youngest child. A yell of pure anguish escaped him unknowingly at the same time he bent down, gathering the slight body into his arms, frantically searching for a pulse that was no longer there.
“Kyle! Please, stay with me. Please, baby…” Rhys sat on the floor, rocking his son as he had when he was an infant.
“Michael?” Primitive cries passed through Rhys’s lips as he made himself lay his son gently on the blood soaked carpet, frantically searching for his oldest son.
He found him lying behind the couch, his tiny body that had gripped Rhys in a fierce hug just that morning lay as lifeless as his brother’s. Rhys gently pulled him into his arms, cradling him toward his chest. Burying his face in his soft hair, Rhys cried, begging God to bring him back.